Jony Ive adn Balmuda Illuminate Design World with $4,800 ‘Sailing Lantern‘
former Apple design chief Jony Ive, through his firm LoveFrom, has collaborated with japanese lifestyle brand Balmuda to launch the ‘Sailing Lantern,’ a meticulously crafted lighting fixture available in a limited edition of 1,000 units. Priced at $4,800 (€4,500), the lantern represents a fusion of Ive’s renowned attention to detail and Balmuda’s engineering expertise, pushing the boundaries of both form and function in everyday objects.
The project, born from a shared passion for tackling complex design challenges, transcends the creation of a simple lamp. It signifies a deepening partnership between Ive and Balmuda CEO Gen Terao, demonstrating the power of collaborative innovation and the pursuit of technical advancement through artistic expression. The Sailing Lantern’s release underscores a growing trend of high-end collaborations focused on elevating everyday experiences, appealing to a market that values both aesthetic beauty and technological sophistication.
Terao emphasized the demanding nature of working with Ive,stating,”Jony Ive’s attention to detail is world famous. And for us as engineers, meeting his requirements was hard. But we took on this challenge, and maybe the biggest gift that Jony has given us is just that our abilities in science and technology have improved consequently.”
Ive reciprocated the praise, acknowledging the value of their working relationship. “gen is not interested in sailing, but we’re both interested in solving thes tough, crazy problems,” he explained. “When you make something, people focus very frequently enough on the tangible expression of it. But the other consequences are what you learn, and your relationship.”
Ive further expressed gratitude for the partnership, noting, “As you gain more experience in your practice, what seems really valuable gently starts to shift. And I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to be lucky enough to find somebody that I just love working with. I think you would be foolish and arrogant not to celebrate that, and I am very mindful of how rare and precious it is.”
The Sailing Lantern is available for purchase now through balmuda.com/lovefrom-balmuda.
